Klarinet Archive - Posting 001443.txt from 1998/04

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Jason and the dark sound
Date: Sat, 25 Apr 1998 11:13:36 -0400

> From: MX%"klarinet@-----.85
> Subj: Re: Jason and the dark sound

> <<It is rather that the subject of wood vs plastic clarinets has been central
> to many
> discussions on this list...>>
>
> I sound nearly equally good (or "bad" depending on your interpretation!) on
> wood, plastic, and metal clarinets. This also holds true for wood clarinets
> from different makers. However, the key word here is "nearly." I can sense a
> greater resonance to wood clarinets than to the others. Moreover, listeners
> who are not aware of what I am playing in terms of material sense it, too.
> Something is going on. Could it be the pad cup design/material? Or fungal
> mycelium (and heaven knows what else) that has worked its way into wood
> (whereas plastic and metal would be impervious)? Or could it be that I "TRY"
> to play better when I know I am playing on wood? I understand that all things
> being equal, the material doesn't make a scientific difference in sound. But
> all things are not usually equal...
>
> Cindy

Is there any possibility that you believe there to be a sound difference
and that, therefore, you hear one because you presume there is one?

There is also the question of your use of the word "nearly" and how
effectively you have questioned the listeners who are said to sense
the difference, too.

It's all very subjective and without substance. And furthermore, your
conclusion that you sound "nearly" the same has no basis to be
established or contradicted by evidence because it is how you feel.

It could be the pad cup design, or material or something that has worked
its way into the wood or, for that matter, any one of a thousand things
on which one can speculate. But in the face of the evidence that
suggests that the medium of the instrument has no effect on the
character or quality of the sound, such statements have no standing.

=======================================
Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
Rosanne Leeson, Los Altos, California
leeson@-----.edu
=======================================